Texas, Academy, Glasgow

Texas are on to a winner every time they play in Glasgow, although to review this show in the context of their forthcoming national tour might be to raise expectations somewhat. As they've proved consistently since they first made it into the charts in 1989 with "I Don't Want a Lover" - a track that echoed the rough-hewn sentiments of their home, as gritty a Glaswegian archetype as a Billy Connolly routine or an episode of Taggart - they've proved themselves to be purveyors of a fine chorus and a vaguely memorable radio song.

So, although their musical contribution is largely as a well-worn staple of daytime playlists and Valentine's Day gift lists, there's something acutely personable about Texas that leads them away from the realm of indefensible chart hackery and into the list of those bands that all but the most determined musical snob will neither love nor hate.

"How did you learn to sing like that?" a European interviewer once apparently asked Spiteri, to which she replied: "I'm from Glasgow - everyone there sings like me." The crowd go wild at this elastic use of the truth, and it certainly does the trick in firing them up for a mass closing sing-along of "Say What You Want".

Texas's back-catalogue also deserves credit. From "I Don't Want a Lover", the song that opened the show and their career, they've produced a good body of hits. There's the vaguely Motown stomp of "Black Eyed Boy" or the more languid chime of "Summer Son", and then the absolutely laid-back balladry of "In Demand", each sounding fresher without the gloss of overproduction.

"Sleep" allows fellow Glaswegian and Blue Nile frontman Paul Buchanan to make an onstage guest appearance. That - and he and Spiteri's duet on Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" - were high points of a gig that was more boisterous than any by Texas really deserves to be. Quite so fevered a reception is unlikely in any other city on this tour, but the band will be buoyed by this winning start.

Touring until 14 October